―Sharon Creech
Skeptic
I'm not good at waiting―I've never been able to endure time passing, the glacial inching of clock hands or the desolate land of the little while.
So I tried not to think ahead about meeting Cindy.
Fortunately, I had an afternoon lecture to occupy me and students' questions afterwards to kill some time. But It would be futile to leave early because I knew her pattern―she wouldn't be out on the trail until at least five pm.
Being so close but having to wait to see her would just torment me, so I dropped into The Human Bean for an after-work coffee thinking this would distract me until it was time to leave.
The cafe was bustling and lively, filled with students and faculty members with the same idea as me― trying to unwind before heading home.
"Hey Prof, it's not good to drink alone."
Blair Sommers slid in beside me looking beautiful in a burnt orange sweater that reminded me of autumn leaves.
"It's only coffee," I protested.
"I know but it still tastes better with company."
"I'll drink to that," I smiled, tipping my mug toward her in a mock toast.
She stared at me for a moment as if trying to unravel a mystery. "There's something different about you―I noticed it the other day."
"Really? You think I've changed in some way?"
She pursed her lips in thought. "Not in a bad way―you just seem deeper, more mature. I kind of backed off because I felt intimidated. It was a different vibe than I'm used to I guess."
"Sorry if I made you feel uncomfortable."
"No, not at all," she laughed, "I just felt I was being annoying―yeah, I can be too much sometimes."
I smiled at her reassuringly, "Believe me, Blair, you are not annoying. I was trying to work out some things in my head. I can be quite intense sometimes."
"Then, that's good," she smiled, "we complement each other."
She glanced at the clock. "Oh! I've got to catch my ride back to the residence. I'll be in Hart House tomorrow―you can buy me a coffee and a croissant."
I watched her hurry out to the campus van. Running into Blair was good―it settled the fear that I had suddenly aged and become irrelevant. Obviously, this was not the case.
I figured I'd leave campus with lots of time to get home, put out fresh kibble and water for Albert and change into my jogging gear. But as I got on the expressway and headed west I saw a storm front building on the horizon.
Oh No, I groaned, this was something I never planned for. It never occurred to me it might rain.
For the whole trip home I kept my eyes on the clouds and watched for any stray drops on the windshield, but thankfully the storm held off.
I quickly fed Albert, changed into my jogging attire and headed out to the trail.
I was about fifteen minutes earlier than Cindy's usual start time, but if she thought it might rain, she might have started earlier or simply decided not to jog at all today.
I entered the trail just below the falls at Smokey Hollow.
What to do now? Should I wait here to see if she shows at her usual time or start out on the trail and try to locate her?
I decided to stay put. I assumed she'd enter and leave at the same starting point. If I was wrong, there was always tomorrow and another chance to connect with her.
But the decision was taken out of my hands, because as I turned around to face the trail entrance, Cindy was standing before me.
I was so shocked to see her that for a moment I was rendered speechless.
"Are you stalking me now, Callum?" she asks.
"Stalking you? No, I found out from Elaine where you jog and wanted to see you and try to explain what happened that day outside my townhouse."
"The day Lori came out dressed in your clothes and carrying her own? I think that was pretty obvious."
"It may have looked bad but I assure you it was innocent. You can ask Lori yourself. I swear nothing you suspect happened―there's a simple explanation."
She bites her lower lip and looks skyward. That's never a good sign with women.
"And I suppose you never drag raced with Jake on the Concession Road or ended up necking with Lori at Rattlesnake Point?"
I shake my head. "I don't know how you know all this, but I can explain it all if you're willing to at least give me the chance."
"You know what, Callum? You're not a teenager. Why the hell were you acting like one?"
I throw up my hands in surrender. "You're right. I'm totally ashamed of getting into that fix. All I can say is that at that moment I wasn't in my right mind."
Her jaw drops. "A mental illness defence? You sure you're not a lawyer instead of a Professor of Literature?"
"Okay, I guess Elaine told you some stuff about me too. I'm not claiming to have a mental illness―it was more like temporary insanity."
She nods. "I see. That's quite convenient. Forgive me if I don't believe you."
"Look, I got a Covid shot and as near as I can figure out it activated a rare gene and my body clock began running backwards. But here's the scary part―it also affected my psychology and I began to revert to my younger self. Unfortunately, I was impulsive and rebellious back in the day and when Jake challenged me to a race, I foolishly agreed."
"That stuff about the vaccine is voodoo science. I may not have my doctorate, but how naive do you think I am?"
"I know it sounds crazy, but it happened to me. Lev Cohen, the Chair of Psychology, agrees and he put me in touch with Arthur Rodgers, a neuroscientist, who's doing a study on anomalies regarding aging."
"Well, if that's the case, why is it that you now seem normal to me―are the effects only short term?"
"Maybe, we don't really know. But I just got my senior's flu shot and maybe that reset my body clock."
"Did you say a 'senior's' flu shot? How old are you?"
"I'm fifty." I pulled out my wallet and showed her along with other photo I.D.
"You know you look thirty-five―maybe forty, tops."
"Yeah, my crows feet are back and my temples are greying so I guess I'm pretty well back to where I started out."
"You realize I'm ten years younger than you?"
I nodded. "My friend Lev tells me that's doable―a fifteen year gap would be pushing it."
"So, you actually scoped out whether or not we'd be compatible? I told you I was getting over a relationship."
"I know, I was just being proactive because I was beginning to have feelings for you. I just didn't know if it would work."
"Why―because you thought I'd be too superficial to date an older man? Grey hair makes you look distinguished and ten years is not that big a difference."
"So, you think I'd have a chance?"
"Maybe, if you didn't neck with schoolgirls and play dress-up at your house."
"You know I can explain that."
"I 'm looking forward to hearing that explanation...after our jog."
She turned and started down the trail and I dutifully followed.
I wasn't in the clear, but it was a start.